News that caught our eye / The week ending June 20, 2025
Mini car boom a mixed blessing for China / June 16, 2025
Mini cars are becoming more popular in China, especially among the elderly, but even younger adults are buying them because they are inexpensive. But mini cars don’t require a driver’s license or license plates. Drivers tend to treat the cars more as minibikes, often disregarding the rules of the road. Their small size presents a safety concern, as well (NHK World-Japan).
Goodbye to China’s total control – the Asian giant loosens its grip on rare minerals / June 14, 2025
When President Xi and President held their momentous phone call earlier this month, China allowed the flow of rare earth minerals to begin again for some US car manufacturers—for six months while negotiations continue. China is using rare earths as a major tool in those negotiations, as well as to control the global markets that depend on them as it currently produces 90% of all rare earths (Unión Rayo).
China's civil servants banned from dining out in Xi's austerity drive / June 16, 2025
Already back in 2012, the newly elected President Xi issued the “eight-point regulations,” a code of conduct for civil servants that was intended to curb corruption and excesses among government workers. Recently, however, deaths caused by alcohol intoxication of civil servants at banquets have caused the government to tighten the screws even more. The crackdown created a rare online outcry from civil servants (Reuters).
Israel-Iran Conflict: China may “strike us” through proxies after Iran setback / June 15, 2025
China expert, Gordon Chang, warned that China may use its own proxies to attack the US after Israel targeted numerous nuclear sites in Iran, China’s close Middle Eastern ally. Israel’s attacks have also damaged China’s policy goals in the Middle East, something that China won’t take lightly. China purchases much of Iran’s oil and also supplies Iran and its proxies with weapons and weapon components (The Times of India).
Gordon Chang Slams Democrat’s Claim that China is the world’s ‘moral authority’ / June 16, 2025
Gordon Chang condemned Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz’s comment that China is the world’s “moral authority” when it comes to negotiating any peace agreement between Israel and Iran, since China is a strong ally of Iran and supplies much of its weaponry. Chang also expressed concern that China could potentially spark a global threat in the South China Sea (Fox Business).
US aircraft carrier heads west from South China Sea amid Middle East tensions / June 16, 2025
The USS Nimitz was seen leaving the South China Sea and heading west toward the Middle East on Monday morning as the conflict between Israel and Iran increased. The aircraft carrier was scheduled to stop in Danang City for a formal reception on Friday, but that had been canceled (Alarabiya).
China tells citizens in Israel to leave 'as soon as possible' / June 17, 2025
The Chinese Embassy in Israel advised Chinese citizens in that country to leave as quickly as possible on Tuesday, recommending a departure over land to Jordan. The conflict could widen, with the US supporting Israel and China supporting Iran (CNA).
China Missiles to Hammer Israel? Iran Seeks Beijing’s Help, New Headache for Netanyahu, Trump / June 17, 2025
A representative of Iran accused the US of being a “partner in crime” with Israel as Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities this last week. He also called on China and the BRICS alliance to intervene in the crisis (Times of India).
Majority of Australians think China will be world’s most powerful country by 2035 / June 15, 2025
A Lowry Institute survey found Australians’ confidence in the US dropping from 56% in 2024 to 36% today, and confidence in President Trump’s handling of world affairs also dropping 20 points to 25% over their view of President Biden in 2024. Confidence in Xi Jinping rose four points to 16%. Still, Australians viewed the alliance with the US as important, and they see China becoming the most powerful nation by 2035. The survey took place in March (The Guardian).
‘Donald is right’ and China is the problem, EU chief says / June 17, 2025
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen identified China’s attempts at manipulating the global economy to unfairly cut out competition and boost its own domestic businesses, siding with President Trump and his tariff war against China. But she also chided President Trump for hitting the EU with similar tariffs, saying the allies should be working together against the common threat China presents (Politico).
This Chinese satcom tech transmits data 5x faster than Starlink / June 17, 2025
Chinese scientists transmitted data from a satellite 36,000 miles away in space at a speed of 1Gbps, which is 5 times faster than Starlink’s capabilities. The biggest problem in such transmission is atmospheric turbulence that diffuses light from the laser transmission, damaging the signal. The scientists used micro-mirrors and a convertor to re-focus the laser light (News Bytes).
US pushes Vietnam to decouple from Chinese tech, sources say / June 16, 2025
As the US and Vietnam continue negotiating over Trump’s suspended tariff threat, the US is urging Vietnam to cease using Chinese-made components in the products it produces and sends off to the US. The US also wants Vietnam to discontinue labeling products as “made in Vietnam when all of the products’ component parts were made in China. Vietnamese businesses say, however, that such a transition to new sources would take months, not days (Reuters).
China’s May retail sales grow at fastest pace since December 2023 via subsidies / June 16, 2025
Retail sales in China spiked in May to 6.4% compared to May of 2024 and was the highest rate since December of 2023. The boost is likely due to government subsidies to upgrade old appliances, online shopping, and a rise in tourism after China added more countries to its “visa-free” list. Other economic indicators were mixed (CNBC).
China talks up digital yuan in push for multi-polar currency system / June 18, 2025
In its quest to make the digital yuan a global currency, the head of the People’s Bank of China announced that it will establish an international operational center for e-CNY in Shanghai. The instability caused by President Trump’s tariff war has caused nations to look elsewhere for financial security. China is capitalizing on that current situation (Reuters).